The 1601-series is introduced for verified utilities, courier and logistics entities making service and transactional voice calls. Numbers must be allocated directly to eligible entities, not intermediaries or aggregators, following verification by telecom service providers and an undertaking of exclusive use. Promotional voice calls are prohibited on this series and remain associated with the 140-series. The framework separates these calls from the 1600-series reserved for regulated financial-sector and government-to-citizen communications, supporting consumer recognition of legitimate calls and reducing impersonation risks.

Conviction for cruelty to a married woman may be sustained despite the absence of a separate charge where the accused had clear notice of the factual allegation, cross-examined relevant witnesses and had a fair opportunity to defend; an omission in the charge is not fatal without prejudice or failure of justice. Acquittal of dowry death does not negate independently proved cruelty because dowry death requires additional proof of dowry-linked harassment soon before an unnatural death. Physical assault, humiliation and harassment may establish cruelty even where the additional ingredients of dowry death remain unproved.

GST constituted the principal component of tax revenue for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Tax administration faces staff shortages, information-technology upgrade needs, and increased workloads from taxpayer registrations and return filings. Compliance oversight requires GST data scrutiny, risk assessment, identification of unregistered taxpayers, tax-evasion detection, and field verification of high-risk taxpayers. Long-term revenue planning sets progressively higher collection targets through 2063.

Indian imports of Russian crude oil reached a second consecutive monthly record in July 2026, with Russian crude forming the dominant share of India's Russian fossil-fuel purchases and more than half of total crude imports. Higher receipts through smaller terminals offset reduced volumes at Paradip. Indian refineries processing Russian crude also exported refined petroleum products to sanctioning jurisdictions, including the European Union, Australia and the United States, despite the European Union prohibition on imports of oil products made from Russian crude.

Telangana State One-Time Settlement Scheme, 2022 enables settlement of disputed legacy tax arrears, with each assessment year treated separately. Undisputed tax is payable in full, while prescribed portions of disputed tax are payable for different tax categories; interest and penalties are waived and no refund is available. Applications undergo committee scrutiny, followed by payment and withdrawal of applicable appeals. Final settlement follows realisation of the full payable amount and disposal of the matter as withdrawn. Eligible higher-value liabilities may be paid through limited interest-free instalments, with bank interest applicable for further instalments.

Investigation into unauthorised withdrawals after theft of a mobile phone uncovered an alleged interstate cyber-fraud network using stolen devices, linked banking credentials and mule bank accounts. The scheme allegedly involved phone theft, supply of accounts and banking instruments, and a technical operation that accessed victims' accounts and routed funds for withdrawal or transfer. Digital surveillance, transaction mapping, seized devices, victim data and transaction records are being examined to identify linked complaints and the extent of funds allegedly diverted.

The rupee depreciated against the US dollar amid a stronger dollar, higher global crude oil prices and uncertainty surrounding West Asia-related negotiations. Concerns over crude oil's potential impact on the trade deficit weighed on the currency, while positive domestic equity markets and foreign portfolio investment inflows provided support. Market caution remained focused on forthcoming US inflation data, dollar-index movements and Brent crude prices. Foreign-exchange reserves increased during the reported period.

Assessment and first appellate proceedings must provide the assessee a meaningful opportunity to present its case. An ex parte assessment followed limited time for share applicants to respond, with replies received after the assessment order. The appellate proceeding was decided after only a conditional notice concerning the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the record did not establish adequate opportunity before either authority, the assessment and appellate orders were unsustainable for breach of natural justice. The matter was restored for fresh adjudication after granting sufficient opportunity to the assessee.

Penalty under Section 54(1)(14) of the U.P. VAT Act requires an intention to evade tax. Omissions in columns 5 and 6 of Form 38 did not establish such intent where the goods were supported by relevant documents, their weight and description matched, and the transactions were recorded in the books and routed through banking channels. The unreversed finding of no intention to evade tax made restoration of the penalty unsustainable, and the penalty was therefore not sustainable.

Assessment functions under section 73 of the Telangana Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 are assigned to specified Deputy Commissioners and an Assistant Commissioner (ST) Audit for identified taxpayers and financial years. Assessments must be conducted only through the Scrutiny Module, following the procedure prescribed under the TGST and CGST Acts, 2017.

QRMP scheme taxpayers received an extension for depositing April 2022 tax liability through FORM GST PMT-06 until 27 May 2022. The extension applies with effect from 17 May 2022 and concerns tax payable under the quarterly return and monthly payment framework.

ESOP discount represents employee compensation for services rendered during the vesting period and becomes deductible only proportionately as options vest. Granting options alone neither obliges the employer to issue shares at a discount nor crystallises a deductible liability. A deduction claimed up to the end of the financial year without regard to vesting is likewise inconsistent with the service-linked nature of the expense. Consequently, the full ESOP discount is not deductible in the year of grant, and the deduction claim was disallowed.

FORM GSTR-3B filing deadline for April 2022 under the Telangana Goods and Services Tax framework was extended to 24 May 2022. The extension was issued by the Commissioner of State Tax, Telangana, on the Council's recommendations, under the statutory return-filing power and the prescribed rule governing FORM GSTR-3B. The extended deadline took effect from 17 May 2022.

Loan Utsav 2026 provides eligible Bajaj Finance Personal Loan applicants an exclusive reward bundle where the loan is successfully disbursed during the campaign period. The collateral-free facility supports personal expenses, offers repayment tenures from 12 to 108 months, and may enable lower monthly EMI obligations through a longer selected tenure. Interest rates depend on eligibility, credit assessment, financial profile and lending criteria. Online applications require personal and financial details and required documents, with disbursal for eligible applicants possible after verification and approval.

Automation of concessional-duty imports requires one-time electronic prior information in Form IGCR-1 and generation of an IGCR Identification Number. Importers must declare the IIN and continuity bond details in the bill of entry, enabling exemption processing and automatic bond debit. Receipt and job-work intimations are removed, but non-receipt, short receipt and goods movements must be recorded and reported in the monthly statement. Imported goods must be used for the intended purpose within six months, or re-exported or cleared on payment of differential duty and interest. Monthly Form IGCR-3 replaces quarterly returns.

Imported polyester quilt covers remain classifiable as declared where their condition at import supports that classification. The possibility that detaching stitches could make them resemble bed sheets does not alter the applicable tariff treatment. Applying an earlier classification determination on materially similar facts, the declared classification was accepted. As the basis for rejecting the declared value depended on the alleged misclassification, the undervaluation allegation also failed. The resulting duty demand, confiscation, fine and penalty were unsustainable.

Credit-card spending features include conversion of eligible purchases into EMIs, selected no-cost EMI options, reward points, cashback, merchant discounts and payment flexibility. Travel-related benefits may include domestic airport lounge access, travel-booking discounts, fuel-surcharge waiver and anniversary-linked rewards. The AU 0101 application enables transaction tracking, balance and interest-rate monitoring, EMI conversion and bill-payment management. Features and offers are subject to change, customer eligibility, internal policies and partner-merchant terms.

Faceless assessment of Bills of Entry requires complete initial disclosure of commodity description, brand, model and assessment-relevant specifications. Supporting technical literature, mandatory documents and certificates should be uploaded at the first instance. e-Sanchit uploads must be legible and linked to the relevant Bill of Entry, enabling assessing officers to examine the material and reducing avoidable queries and delays in assessment and clearance.

Subsequently realised unrealised rent taxable as income from house property under section 25AA remains subject to the applicable computation provisions. Property tax borne and paid by the owner during the relevant year is deductible, irrespective of whether the receipt represents regular rent or unrealised rent realised later. Service tax mandatorily paid by the owner but not recovered from the licensee reduces the unrealised rent ultimately realised, where the related rental income had already been offered to tax. Characterising the settlement as a package arrangement does not defeat that reduction. Taxable income comprises only the balance after giving effect to owner-paid property tax and unrecovered service tax.

Approval is granted for Scientific Research under section 45(3)(b) of the Income-tax Act, 2025 read with Rule 35 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026. The approval applies to the specified company for five tax years, from Tax Year 2026-27 through Tax Year 2030-31, enabling it to be treated as approved for the stated scientific research purpose during that period. The notification certifies that retrospective effect does not adversely affect any person.